MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY - FIRST DAY

 

The Souls in Purgatory

A truly Christian soul will, during this month, think with love of the faithful departed. There is nothing more pleasing to God, or more profitable to ourselves, than the practice of praying for the souls in purgatory, that He may relieve their sufferings and speedily admit them to His glory. We see our friends dropping from the ranks of the living, and entering that state which is so mysterious. The Church tells us that we can help them on their way to heaven by our prayers, if they have been detained in purgatory to atone to God's justice for their transgressions.

St. Alphonsus says, “It is a duty, for Christian charity commands us to relieve our neighbors who stand in need of our assistance; but who among all our neighbors have so great need of our help as these holy prisoners, deprived for a time of the sight of God?” Many indulgences, both plenary and partial, are applicable to them; let us gain them, so that the mercy of God may be moved in their favor. Let us also remember the poor souls who have no one to pray for them. And in return these blessed souls will not neglect to obtain for us many graces from God, particularly the grace of eternal life.

Meditations and Prayers for Every Day

First Day

Often meditate on the sufferings of the souls in purgatory. The thought will inspire you with the proper and holy fear of God's justice, which requires expiation in purgatory for sins unatoned for in this life. It will also move you to have compassion on the poor souls and to relieve them by your good works. The souls in purgatory endure dreadful punishments; it is the opinion of theologians that they suffer the pains of fire. They also suffer the pain of loss, which is more severe than that of sense. You should ask yourselves: Shall we suffer these dreadful pains in purgatory, or shall we escape them? Let us take warning from the unhappy souls who are to be miserable for eternity, and cultivate a salutary fear of God's justice and so avoid sin. Let the happiness of the saints encourage us to lead virtuous lives, and confide in the mercy and goodness of God. Standing between the eternity of happiness and the eternity of misery, we must make our choice. Through God's grace and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and the members of the heavenly court, let us resolve, in future, to avoid not only mortal but also venial sin. Let us resolve also to atone for our past sins, and pay the debt which we owe to God's justice, so that when our souls are separated from our bodies we may go at once to enjoy God in heaven.

Prayer

Release, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from the bonds of their sins; and by the assistance of Thy grace may they escape the sentence of condemnation, and enjoy the bliss of eternal light. Amen.

 

A PRAYER FOR THE SOULS SUFFERING IN PURGATORY

A PRAYER FOR THE SOULS SUFFERING IN PURGATORY

It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. — 2 Mach. xii. 46.

O God of all consolation, sole Author of the salvation of souls, have mercy on those who suffer in purgatory. Look with compassion on the greatness of their torments: they are more keenly devoured by their ardent desire of being united to thee than by the purging flames wherein they are plunged. With them I adore thy avenging justice, and confess the equity of thy judgments. But since thou art pleased favorably to hear the prayers which the members of thy holy Church offer to thee in behalf of their brethren, graciously hear the supplications which I now address to thee for those suffering souls. Remember. O Lord, thou art their father, and they are thy children. Forget the faults which, through the frailty of human nature, they have committed against thee during the course of their mortal pilgrimage. Adorable Jesus, Victim of propitiation both for the living and the dead, vouchsafe, in thy quality of Redeemer, to apply the merits of thy passion and death to the relief of those souls whom thou punishest as their sovereign Judge. Remember thy faithful followers and thy spouses. Let some drops of that precious blood which thou hast shed for their salvation flow on those devouring flames; and let the infinite price of that sacred blood afford a full satisfaction for their offences. Deliver them, O most merciful God, from that place of darkness and torture, and call them to a place of refreshment, light, and peace. Grant them the possession of the sovereign good after which they so ardently sigh, and for which thou hast created them. Receive them into thy paternal bosom, where they will praise and love thee to all eternity. Amen.

NOVENA FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY - NINTH DAY

 

Novena for the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Ninth Day

Great are all the sufferings of the holy souls: the fire, the grief, the darkness, the uncertainty of the time of their deliverance from prison; but the greatest of all these Sorrows are these: these holy souls are separated from their divine Spouse, and deprived of His beatific vision.

Prayer

O my God! How was it possible that I for so many years have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! O infinite Goodness, how long-suffering hast Thou shown Thyself to me! Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee; I promise rather to die than to again offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance, and do not permit that I should ever again fall into sin. Have compassion for the holy souls in Purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate their sufferings; shorten the time of their misery; call them soon unto Thee in Heaven, that they may behold Thee face to face, and forever love Thee. Mary, Mother of Mercy, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession, and pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal damnation.

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR SUFFERING SAVIOUR FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY

V. O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these blessed souls.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord; have mercy on them.

V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord; have mercy on them.

V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord; have mercy on them.

V. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy Cross to Calvary, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord; have mercy on them.

V. O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing  forth Thy blessed soul, have mercy on them. 

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord; have mercy on them.    

[Here recommend yourself to the souls in Purgatory, and mention the favor you wish to obtain by this Novena.]

Blessed souls, we have prayed for you; we entreat you, who are so dear to God and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for us miserable sinners, who are in danger of being damned and of losing God forever. Amen.